RUST COMMENTARY: EMERSON WAS FIRST TO SEEK 8TH DISTRICT DEBATE

Regarding the 8th District (that's us) congressional debates, our recent news article omitted one very major fact ... that Jo Ann Emerson was the candidate who initially proposed the debates nine weeks ago.

Saturday, Aug. 3, 1996 -- Team Emerson proposed a series of five debates with local media members as panelists to establish a format, designate a moderator and execute the debate event. A letter was sent to all candidates regarding this information, as this was prior to the primary election. The only candidate to contact Team Emerson and reply was John Tlapek.

Friday, Sept. 6, 1996 -- Reportedly, a conference call was established by Team Emerson to discuss among all five candidates their intent to participate and to try and negotiate a format and schedule. The Firebaugh campaign proposed using the League of Women Voters format, and the Emerson people proposed discussing said format (with stated objections), but insisted that local entities host and execute debates.

Friday, Sept. 13, 1996 -- Firebaugh and Emerson campaigns spoke, and Emerson re-established support for local chambers of commerce, which had contacted them and offered to host debate events. The Firebaugh campaign established that it had been talking with the League of Women Voters office in St. Louis and was basically working out a debate schedule. Emerson restated other serious concerns with individuals not from that community trying to organize a debate. The next thing Emerson read was Firebaugh's press release which stated their negotiations via the media.

Thus, the Sept. 19 press release from the Emily Firebaugh campaign that suggested Emerson won't jump on the bandwagon had more to do with politics than with the debates.

In summary, the Firebaugh campaign has consistently spoken with the LWV office in St. Louis and attempted to orchestrate a debate format. It seems to me an explanation of their opposition to local citizens hosting locally sponsored debates is needed. How can the League of Women Voters establish and execute three debates in communities where they have no members and quite frankly don't know much about the local concerns and traditions?

The League of Women Voters is a small-member group and suggests a much too controlled format, in my opinion. If the public wants to be better informed of the candidates position on the issues, let them have at it ... in open debate.

This congressional seat is one of the most targeted in the nation ... not just because of the candidates but because of its importance as to whether the liberals or the conservatives control Congress.

We deserve more than cheap-shot press releases. It's tough enough for the voters that there will be FIVE candidates on the ballot seeking their votes and the education process of HOW as well as WHO to vote for. The five candidates are: 1) Libertarian GREG TLAPEK, 2) National Law Party candidate DAVID ZIMMER, 3) Republican RICHARD KLINE, 4) Democrat EMILY FIREBAUGH, and Independent JO ANN EMERSON.

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"To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing." -- Elbert Hubbard Hullin

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In the midst of all of the rumors and changes being made after NATIONS BANK CORP.'s announcement of its intentions to purchase BOATMEN'S BANK, it's been said that former Cape president, JAY BURCHFIELD, has resigned ... though asked to stay on.

Jay had advanced rapidly from West Plains to Cape to the large Boatmen's Bank in Springfield to regional coordinator and just recently to be placed in charge of the large new Boatmen's acquisition in Oklahoma. We wish him the best in whatever he chooses to do ... if the rumor is true.

Incidentally, in a recent interview in the St. Louis Business Journal with Boatmen's president ANDY CRAIG, it was observed that "at the end of 1990 (when Craig became president) 91 percent of the bank's assets were in Missouri; today, through acquisition, only 44 percent of the assets are here. Boatmen's operates in nine states, ranking number one in five of them."

"People think of Boatmen's as a local (Missouri) bank. It really isn't. Ten percent of the ownership is in Missouri," said Craig.

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"It takes a heap of sense to write good nonsense." -- Mark Twain

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The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of DEMPSTER HALL which houses the DON HARRISON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS was professionally handled by all.

But most impressive is the building itself. What a teaching and learning platform to launch our business majors of the future.

Also, the new MBA program and night courses should be looked into (and according to the early enrollments are) for the opportunity to upgrade many in the community.

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Hillary's role in a second term:

The Clinton administration is getting so overconfident about November that it is beginning to hint at what the next four years will look like -- a big mistake. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt suggested a new national sales tax on all outdoor equipment and recreational items to fund a new environmental war chest. The White House quickly shut Babbitt up. But it may be Clinton himself who needs to be muzzled. He told Barbara Walters in an interview that aired Friday on ABC that in a second term he may put Hillary in charge of overhauling welfare reform. I guess the price he paid for her handling of health-care reform two years ago had already slipped his mind.

In a related development, congressional Democratic leaders told The Washington Post this week that if they get control of Congress back they have some big new government programs in mind, and that a balanced budget will have to wait.

-- Washington Update

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As he calls for a campaign of ideas, not insults, President Clinton continues to buffet Bob Dole with television ads that portray the GOP nominee in a negative light.

But the spots also have focused heavily on issues, and one study suggests the political ads from both sides are providing voters with more substantive information than past presidential campaign commercials.

Before the convention, Clinton and the Democratic National Committee aired ads more than 44,594 times in key markets around the country, according to Competitive Media Reporting figures -- compiled by Republicans. All but 1,077 of those showings were deemed negative.

Between Aug. 30 and Sept. 8, Clinton and the DNC aired ads more than 4,242 times, and all but 42 of those portrayed Dole negatively.

Those figures don't include spots released this week, including one pitting Dole's opposition to the Family and Medical Leave Act against a couple who said the law let them spend time with a terminally ill child.

-- Associated Press

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Congratulations to COACH DEMENT and the CENTRAL FOOTBALL TIGERS who are off to their best start in recent years: 3-0 ... with a balanced attack and strong defense.

Also to CARL GROSS and the JACKSON INDIANS who are continuing to show a winning program's success ... with their 3-0 start.

Coach Mumford's Southeast Missouri State University Indians played a strong defensive ... but sporadic offensive game against 12th ranked Division I-AA Murray State Saturday.

Two blocked punts, a Murray quarterback scramble escaping the apparent grasp of three Indians, three field goals and an untimely fumble deep in Murray's territory kept the game from being a tossup. This a pleasant surprise to the pre-game prognostications.

~Gary Rust is the president of Rust Communications which owns the Southeast Missourian and other newspapers.